Hyderabad: It is becoming difficult for the state government to come up with money to distribute to farmers under its Rythu Bandhu scheme for the Kharif season which starts in June. The government requires about Rs 6,000 crore, as it has increased the investment subsidy from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per year for each farmer.
The funds will be distributed at the rate of Rs 5,000 per acre in each season of Kharif and Rabi. The funds must be distributed in the last week of this month.
The government was unable to pay out Rs 800 crore in subsidy for the previous Rabi season, but government officials say the pending amount was cleared last month.
In the current financial year, both state and Central governments have presented vote on account budgets. As a result, the state government has no clue about funds flow from the Centre in this financial year.
According to officials the total pending bills amount to Rs 10,000 crore.
The state government has also enhanced the amount for various pensioners under the Aasara scheme. There are 40 lakh beneficiaries under the Aasara scheme.
In addition to this, the state government has revised the age limit for old age pension from 60 years to 57 years.
About 20 lakh new beneficiaries have been identified, in addition to the existing 40 lakh beneficiaries. The amount of the pension too has been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,016 per month for old age, widows, single women and other categories.
The monthly pension amount for differently-abled persons has also been enhanced from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,016.
The state government is currently forking out around Rs 500 crore per month for various pension schemes.
